ridin’ down the highway goin’ to a show stop in all the by-ways playin’ rock ‘n’ roll gettin’ robbed gettin’ stoned gettin’ beat up broken boned gettin’ had gettin’ took i tell you folks it’s harder than it looks

it’s a long way to the top if you wanna rock ‘n’ roll it’s a long way to the top if you wanna rock ‘n’ roll if you think it’s easy doin’ one night stands try playin’ in a rock roll band it’s a long way to the top if you wanna rock ‘n’ roll

hotel, motel make you wanna cry lady do the hard sell know the reason why gettin’ old gettin’ grey gettin’ ripped off under-paid gettin’ sold second hand that’s how it goes playin’ in a band

it’s a long way to the top if you wanna rock ‘n’ roll it’s a long way to the top if you wanna rock ‘n’ roll if you wanna be a star of stage and screen look out it’s rough and mean it’s a long way to the top if you wanna rock ‘n’ roll it’s a long way to the top if you wanna rock ‘n’ roll well, it’s a long way it’s a long way, (they tell me) it’s a long way, such a long way, (bagpipe)